Antennae clip



Feb. 18, 1958 w. su' M 2,823,438

ANTENNAE CLIP Filed Oct. 23, 1953 .0 I m W; w W

United States Patent ANTENNAE CLIP William H. Summerer, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application October 23, 1953, Serial No. 387,976

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-261) This invention relates to spring fasteners for coupling together a rod and plate in parallel relation to each other. More especially, the invention comprises the concept of a fastener for securing an electrically conductive rod to a nonconducting plate of foraminous structure, the clip cooperating with pairs of apertures of the plate for securing the rod thereto.

A specific use of the invention is in connection with a television cabinet assembly. Therein is contemplated a cabinet which is constructed with an initially open back closed by a foraminous panel or plate of non-conducting material, after the television chassis has been installed within the cabinet, and an antenna, particularly an antenna for receiving ultra high frequency waves, which is clamped to the panel by means of two or more of the novelfasteners.

An advantage of the novel fastener is that it is formed from a single length of spring wire and therefore represents a minimum initial expense, and can readily be applied by unskilled labor in a minimum of time.

Other advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view-of the upper part of a television cabinet, as viewed rearwardly thereof, in conjunction with which the invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, the view being drawn to an enlarged scale to show the panel and fasteners securing the antenna to the rear of said panel;

Fig. 3 is an end-elevational view of the fastener when the hooks are nearest the observer;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a fragment of the panel and antenna, in section, and the fastener in side elevation;

Fig. Sis a view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 in the course of their assembly with each other;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. showing the parts in completely assembled relationship to each other; and Y Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 showing the fastener in a different position and indicating the function of the hooks.

In Fig. 1 is shown the upper rear portion of a cabinet 11 for housing television receiving apparatus, not shown. The rear of the cabinet 11 is initially provided with a rectangular opening through which the television apparatus is inserted. After the apparatus is anchored to the interior of the cabinet the opening is substantially closed by a rear panel, or grille plate 13 which may, in turn, bear adjacent its center a bell 14 to cover the electron gun portion of the picture tube forming a component of the television receiving apparatus. Any suitable means such as a series of screws 15 may be employed adjacent the edges of the panel 13 to secure it to the cabinet 11.

Since heat is generated by the television apparatus, during its operation, and thereby the air within the cabinet is heated, the cabinet must be ventilated to constantly dissipate the heated air. This is effected by a notch 16 at the lower edge of the panel 13 and a multiplicity of holes 17 in the upper portion of the panel. The heated air flows out of the cabinet through the holes 17 and is constantly displaced by cool air flowing into the cabinet through the notch 16.

The holes are equidistantly spaced from each other in horizontal rows which are also vertically spaced uniformly from each other. Each of the holes of alternate rows, however, is in line with a point on either side thereof intermediate so that the holes of one row are in staggered relation to the holes of adjacent rows. The holes are therefore in vertical as well as horizontal alignment as they are shown in Fig. 2. If desired, the continuity of the horizontal rows of holes is broken intermittently, by blank spaces so that the holes are arranged in clusters, the arrangement of the holes of the clusters being as just described. In a typical panel, made of fibrous. wood products, the holes 17 were of an inch in diameter, and were horizontally spaced from each other by W of an inch in each cluster while, vertically, each of the rows of holes were V of an inch apart, which is also the horizontal distance between adjacent vertical rows.

It is proposed to take advantage of the holes 17, and their uniformly staggered relationship to each other to provide anchorage for the novel fastener to be inserted through pairs of the holes 17 from the outside of the panel 13 to secure to said panel an ultra high frequency antenna 18 on the inner side thereof. Such an antenna may comprise a single metallic rod preformed to the shape indicated to include a horizontal upper straight section 19 from the ends of which vertical sections 21 extend to base sections 22 terminating in ends 23, spaced from each other, to which the respective wires 24 of a 300 ohm cable 26 are soldered to connect the antenna to the chassis. All of the sections 19, 21 and 22 are in a single plane so that they can be concurrently brought into intimate association with the panel 13.

In order that the antenna 18 may be secured to the inner surface of the panel 13, a unique clip or fastener 27 is provided. It is formed from a single strip of spring wire and is best shown in its normal form in Figures 3 and 4. It is preferably formed from spring steel of any suitable gauge. In a satisfactory sample fastener member 16 gauge wire of the class known to the trade as music wire was employed. Between a pair of spaced apart U-shaped bends 28 the clip 27 includes a straight section or handle 29. The remaining arms of the U- shaped bends 28 provide stop portions 31. From the ends of the U-shaped parts which are spaced from each other for a distance equal to the distance between the pairs of holes, a pair of straight arms 32 extend laterally in angular directions relative to the handle and pass in contiguity with each other at a cross-over 33. Finally, the clip 27 includes at the end of each of the arms'32 a hook 34. Both hooks extend away from each other, as shown, being spaced from each other by a distance subisltalntially equal to the distance between adjacent pairs of The matter of associating the antenna 18 in clamped assembly with the panel 13 is carried out as follows:

The section 19 of the antenna is brought into engagement with the inner side of the panel 13 at a level intermediate vertically spaced rows of the holes 17. The hooks 34 are inserted in the holes 17 one on either side of the rod 19. Then the handle 29 is twisted in the direction necessary to spread the cross-over 33 adequately for it to pass that portion of the panel between adjacent holes while the arms of the clip are pushed farther through the holes so that the hooks 34, and then the points on the arms, formerly in contiguity with each other, pass beyond the rod 19. It is then turned a quarter turn and the resiliency of the clip again begins to bring the arms toward a state of contiguity again and this they reach when the handle has been reversed by the turning operation. The cross-over is reestablished, however, above the antenna rod as shown in Fig. 6. In this position the clip 27 in under deflection by the rod 19 against which the arms 32 rest, thereby exerting pressure on the rod. In the mean time, the included angle between the arms 32 at the cross-over is sufficiently wide for the arms to cam the rod into engagement with the inside of the panel, while concurrently, the stop portions 31 are biased into engagement with the outside of the panel. The force thus exerted on the panel by the stops and the pressure on the rod by the arms is adequate to clamp the antenna to the panel.

Any convenient number of clips 27 can be so used to anchor the antenna to panel 13. In order that coupling of the antenna to the panel may be carried out effectively the end sections 21 are of such a length that the lower section engage the panel intermediate two alternate rows of holes 17 so that fasteners may be similarly applied to the lower sections 22 to secure them to the panel.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated the function of the hooks 34. As will be apparent, grasping the handle 29 and drawing it away from the panel draws the hooks into engagement with the rod 19 by the camming action of the arms on the rod. In this position, the angle included between the arms at the rod is adequate, together with the force exerted thereon by the arms, to cause said arms to earn themselves back over the rod to their former position once the handle is released.

While I have described one embodiment of my invention, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A one-piece clip of resilient material comprising an elongated handle having inwardly curved opposite ends which present elongated stop portions extending toward one another in substantial alignment with each other and spaced inward from said handle, a pair of elongated arms connected respectively to the inner ends of said step portions and extending substantially coplanar with said stop portions, said arms extending at acute angles inward from said stop portions away from said handle and crossing over in contact with one another at a-location spaced substantially from said stop portions and terminating in free ends having oppositely directed open hooks extending away from each other back toward said handle portion, said hooks terminating substantially inward from said crossover location.

2. In combination, a panel formed with a pair of spaced holes therein, a resilient clip comprising a handle portion at the outer side of said panel having a length greater than the spacing between said holes and presenting stop portions positioned to abut against the outer side of the panel adjacent the edges of said holes which are remote from one another, a pair of arms connected respectively to said stop portions and extending therefrom at acute angles through the respective holes and crossing over one another in spaced relation to the inner face of the panel, and a member engaged between said crossed over arms and the inner face of the panel and defecting said arms apart to maintain said stop portions abutting against the outer face of the panel.

3. In combination, a panel formed with a pair of spaced holes therein, a one-piece clip of resilient material comprising an elongated handle disposed at the outer side of the panel and having a length substantially greater than the spacing between said holes, said handle having inwardly curved opposite ends constituting elongated stop portions adapted to engage the outer side of the panel beyond said holes therein, said stop portions extending toward one another in substantial alignment and terminating at their inner ends at said holes in the panel, a pair of arms connected respectively to the inner ends of said stop portions and extending therefrom at acute angles through the respective holes and crossing over one another in contiguous relationship at a location spaced inward from the inner face of the panel, and a rod engaged between the inner face of the panel and said crossed over arms and deflecting said arms apart to maintain said stop portions abutting against the outer face of the panel, said arms on the clip terminating in free ends spaced inwardly from said crossover location, said free ends being constructed and arranged to constitute oppositely directed open hooks extending away from each other back toward the panel for engaging the rod when the handle of the clip is pulled out away from the outer face of the panel.

4. In combination on a television receiver, an insulation panel formed with a pair of spaced holes therein, a one-piece clip of resilient metal comprising an elongated handle disposed at the outer side of the panel and having a length substantially greater than the spacing between said holes, said handle having inwardly curved opposite ends constituting elongated stop portions adapted to engage the outer side of the panel beyond said holes therein, said stop portions extending toward one another in substantial alignment and terminating at their inner ends at said holes in the panel, a pair of arms connected respectively to the inner ends of said stop portions and extending substantially coplanar with said stop portions, said arms extending from said stop portions at acute angles through the respective holes and crossing over in contact with one another at a location spaced inward from the inner face of the panel, and a rod-like antenna engaged between the inner face of the panel and said crossed over arms and deflecting said arms apart to maintain said stop portions abutting against the outer face of the panel, said arms on the clip terminating in free ends spaced inwardly from said crossover location, said free ends being constructed and arranged to constitute oppositely directed open hooks extending away from each other back toward the panel for engaging the antenna when the handle of the clip is pulled out away from the outer face of the panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 63,231 Doty Mar. 26, 1867 1,542,706 Lang June 16, 1925 1,767,745 Day June 24, 1930 1,992,093 Place Feb. 19, 1935 2,004,679 Tinnerman June 11, 1935 2,218,832 Schroeder Oct. 22, 1940 2,312,985 Bales Mar. 2, 1943 2,441,215 Tyler May 11, 1948 2,614,701 Mapson Oct. 21, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 485,462 Great Britain May 19, 1938 

